Havelis and Camel Carts

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Delhi - Mandawa - Jaipur
Duration:
3 days / 2 nights (flexible)
Price:
From £ 459.- per person (excluding flights)

Leave the tourist trail behind, exploring dust-swirled desert towns and sleeping in traditional clay huts. It’s an authentic way to experience life in one of India’s most captivating and remote desert regions. The Shekhawati is home to a cluster of beautifully ornate haveli houses complete with bright mosaics, colourful murals and shady courtyards. During this trip you’ll visit some of the finest havelis in the area.

Day 1 – Arrival in Mandawa

Today, you’ll drive from Delhi to the Shekhawati region – a journey that takes around 6 hours. The roads will become smaller and dustier as you approach Mandawa, where you’ll be staying for two nights.

Your unique accommodation is a fully furnished, air-conditioned clay hut, designed to blend in with the desert landscape. The property champions sustainable tourism by providing jobs for the local communities, using locally sourced food in the restaurant and preserving the cultural heritage of the region. It’s an idyllic and peaceful spot, with a pool and plenty of space to relax.

Day 2 – Mandawa’s colourful havelis

This desert settlement was once a key stop on the old caravan routes, where wealthy merchants built colourful, lavishly decorated havelis. We’ll arrange a guided walking tour so you can admire the exotic paintings and intricate frescoes, each telling stories of a bygone era. As you stroll around the town you’ll often be greeted with curious smiles – the locals are genuinely surprised and delighted to see visitors, as few travellers make it into Rajasthan’s little-visited Shekhawati region.